Nice! These pine trees are getting better, but IMO their new shape make you loose the topdown view effect, actually I cant define if these trees are lying down the snow or not.

Also, regarding your rock tile, I've spotted a loop that could be unpleasant.

The leaves are still just a silhouetted blob, which is what clouds are. To really put it back into the foreground, I'd try to add some holes on the canopy, and some rampant leaves sticking out here and there.

Besides, as demonstrated in the edit posted by Kcilc, silhouette leaves may be illuminated by the sunshine casting a light on the right edge, in order to emphasize the not-a-2d-blob feeling.

I'm definitely new to this (just started getting into this type of drawing within the past month or two

Ok. I dont know what led you to jump in pixel art but maybe you need strong readings (and believe me this board is THE good place for that) to educate your eyes and senses to this new world. To feel where pixel art came from and understand how it has developed over the years.

Here is an example of reading suggestion (not that easy to digest...):
Palette/Size/Tile Restictions on Contemporary Pixel Art
about retro art and pixel art, also the entire topic is of high interest

Also I got some questions for you: Are you familiar with these concepts: AntiAliasing, shading, dithering? Meaning, have you seen examples of what is a good AA and whats not? How shading influences the quality and fidelity of a figurative drawing? How dithering can magnify or ruin a texture?

I wont force you to inject yourself Pixel history but I definitely recommand lurking here to gather infos.

It's a little harder to tell that it's a looping texture.
Also, I'd try adding frost on buildings, etc.

I second this. You managed to break the loop, except for the dirty snow ground which using too repetitive shapes.
Also, IMO, trees need redesign, they're a bit off, leaves too fat probably.
These are strong pine trees you may learn of: Gypsy Forest (RPG tiles)

From my gaming experience, ingame snow is often related to blue, so I suggest to bluish your grey a little:



3rd image: I also found the high contrast of the cliffs unpleasant, large areas of plain #fff are a problem in itself, a kind of half visible pattern could change that, or something like snow dunes (!)